There are three viruses circulating in the United States: COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, which some in the medical community refer to as the “triple epidemic.”
Public health officials have seen “rising” levels of all three viruses circulating in the United States before the winter holidays approach, said Rochelle Wallenski, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I warned you in a media briefing on December 5th.
It can be difficult to distinguish between COVID-19, the flu, and RSV if you are feeling unwell. This is because they have similar symptoms and can sometimes look like the common cold.
As for COVID-19, the CDC is reporting an increase in cases and deaths in the past few weeks, as of Dec. 16. Meanwhile, Walenksy said in a briefing that cases of influenza and RSV were on the rise. He said it was more than historically typical for this season.
You may be infected with one of these viruses. But keep in mind, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the period from late August to March is also the time to catch a cold.
Here’s what your symptoms mean:
Are you sick with COVID, RSV, the flu, or just a cold?
Before getting into symptoms, one of the hallmarks of COVID-19, influenza and RSV, share that they are respiratory infections that affect the airways, lungs, sinuses and throat. Colds are similar in that they are upper respiratory tract infections that affect the nose and throat.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 and the flu have quite a few overlapping symptoms, including:
– heat
– cough
— difficulty breathing
– Fatigue
– sore throat
– headache
— vomiting
— runny or stuffy nose
Diarrhea is listed as a symptom of flu and COVID-19 by the CDC. However, while anyone with COVID-19 can experience diarrhea, officials say children with the flu are more likely to experience symptoms.
The CDC notes that COVID-19 symptoms may take longer to appear after initial infection compared to the flu.
Overall, influenza is most likely to cause muscle aches and fever compared to COVID-19, the common cold and RSV, according to NYU Langone Health.
In the United States, influenza and RSV are hitting children hard and overwhelming hospitals, reports NPR.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can affect anyone with “flu-like” symptoms, and can be most severe in infants and the elderly, according to the CDC.
The most common symptoms of RSV and the common cold
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, symptoms of RSV, like COVID-19 and the flu, include:
– heat
– cough
— Difficulty breathing, such as wheezing or shortness of breath
– Fatigue
– stuffy nose
Other symptoms include sneezing, widened nostrils, loss of appetite, and “a bobbing of the head between and under the ribs or a collapse of the chest with each breath,” reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. increase.
The common cold also shares overlapping symptoms of COVID-19, the flu and RSV, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some include:
— slight fever
– cough
— runny or stuffy nose
— congestion
On the other hand, sneezing, body aches and mild headaches are also symptoms of the common cold.
Get evaluated for COVID-19 or influenza
Regarding COVID-19 and the flu, the CDC reports that “you can’t tell the difference between the two” based on symptoms.
Luckily, there are tests available through your healthcare provider that can detect whether you have COVID-19, the flu, or even RSV. Options include a test written by Labcorp and another test written by Quest Diagnostics.
If all three are left out, you may catch a cold.
In general, good habits to avoid getting sick include washing your hands, not touching your face, avoiding close physical contact, staying home, and touching surfaces, according to Nevada-based Intermountain Healthcare. This includes cleaning the
